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MikeR
631

MikeR 631

I have decided to take a break from shells and delve into the vertebrate world for awhile. In going through several trips worth of North Carolina Cretaceous material, I came across this incomplete tooth which I believe is from a mosasaur. Reading through prior posts I know how difficult they are to identify but I am hoping that there are enough distinguishing characteristics to be able to identify by genus. The size of the tooth is 12 mm x 12 mm x 6 mm. I took pictures with my iphone so if the consensus is better quality pics are needed, I'll drag out the DSLR.

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sixgill pete 1,296

sixgill pete 1,296

I'm not really sure about this one. I have a very similar piece of a tooth that is probably from the same location. Only it is the tip section. A few people have looked at it and suggested some type of fish. I still believe it is mosasaur.

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MikeR
631

MikeR 631

I'm not really sure about this one. I have a very similar piece of a tooth that is probably from the same location. Only it is the tip section. A few people have looked at it and suggested some type of fish. I still believe it is mosasaur.

Thanks Don. I would surprised if this was fish as well but I don't know what I don't know.

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Ramo
389

Ramo 389

Mosasaur teeth do not have all those ridges running down them. They are pretty smooth except for a single, slight ridge. On the other hand, plesiosaur teeth do look a lot like the tooth you are showing. If I had to guess, I'd call that plesiosaur.

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Al Dente
2,970

Al Dente 2,970

There is a publication titled "Mosasaurids (Squamata) from the Maastrichtian Phosphates of Morocco: Biodiversity, paleobiogeography and paleoecology …" Gondwana Research 2014, that shows a variety of mosasaur teeth from Morocco. Here is an illustration that includes a fluted tooth (B) identified as Platecarpus with a question mark. I believe that Tylosaurus also have fluted teeth.

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siteseer
877

siteseer 877

Someone talked about Platycarpus elsewhere on the forum recently. I believe he noted that a researcher was at least leaning against Platycarpus being present in the Maastrichtian of Morocco, and suggested another genus.